Abstract:

Karel Schoeman's attempt in his "autobiography" as well as in his historical works and
fiction, is to create a "bulwark against time and oblivion". By narrating the past, an
important contribution is made towards constituting an identity. Utilising Paul Ricoeur's
notion of "narrative identity", the way in which Karel Schoeman emplots his life is explored. Although Schoeman does not yield totally to any popular plot provided by the tradition, he seems to utilise the plot of the journey to a large extent. However, in the last chapter he seems to undo the Jungian identity that was created by his narrative in order to reject the idea of a totalizing identity.